“When Russian aircraft test our air defences… we’re there and ready to respond. It is our principle mission. It’s what we train for.”

“It is undoubtedly the case that the Russians have increased the pressure on us over the last few years both here in the UK and with our NATO allies.”

The RAF Chief’s comments follow recent warnings from Defence Secretary Gavin Williams that Russia could cause, “thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths in an attack on Britain’s energy supply.”

British and Alliance aircrafts have come into close proximity with Russia in a number of recent incidents.

In January, RAF jets scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers after they entered British sovereign airspace.

Sir Stephen Hiller has been holding a RAF Board meeting at RAF Northolt to discuss issues such as sustained campaigns like Operation Shader.